[etni] teaching hours- a FRACTION of the work we do!
- From: "Gila Raz" <graz@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2007 16:43:34 +0200
I applaud Debora's breakdown of a 40-hour work week, though I'm not sure 10
hours of preparation and marking a week is even close to the mark!
"EDUCATIONAL REFORM
A forty hour week divided as follows:
16 hours of classroom instruction - classes limited to 25 (if there are more
than 10 % LD/Spec. Ed than class is limited to 15)
5 hours of tutoring (with individuals or small groups)
10 hours of preparation and marking
2 hours of whole school meetings (discussing school policy and events)
2 hours of grade meetings (discussing pupils and dealing with specific pupil
related problems)
2 hours of subject matter meetings (discussing issues dealing with a
particular discipline)
1 hour of guard duty
1 hour of counselor support
1 hour contact with parents
Blocks of time without teaching for the following:
One month a year professional enrichment
One month curriculum planning, evaluation and assessment
One month vacation"
The popular misconception about the work of a teacher is that TEACHING HOURS
are confused with WORK. It is reasonable to expect that teachers work and be
paid for a full week of work. But the number of hours we stand in front of a
classroom is a FRACTION of the number of hours we work.
In order to do that, they need to have working conditions that are
comparable to any other professional; a teacher needs to have his own desk,
his own computer workstation, his own work area. A teacher should teach in
his own classroom, one that he can decorate and tailor to meet his pupils'
needs. If he is the only teacher using that space, he can be made
accountable for materials he keeps there
I know how difficult it is to get teachers together for meetings, especially
if they are working somewhere else in order to make a living. Teachers must
be able to make a decent living in ONE school, so that they can be available
to participate in all that is required of them in that school. A teacher
should be present in school and paid for a full day's WORK, regardless of
the number of hours he teaches. As long as our jobs are defined by the
number of "teaching hours", any additional hours we stay in school appear to
be voluntary.
I am a secondary school teacher, but I believe that primary school teachers
work just as hard and long as secondary school teachers do. They may have
fewer exams to mark, but they spend an enormous amount of time preparing
materials for their pupils. If "numbers" send out a message, then the salary
base of ALL teachers should be regarded equally (according to the number of
days he works); the foundation that children receive at an early age serves
them for the rest of their lives. Look how much parents are willing to spend
for private pre-schools and quality pre-school education! I also think it's
absurd that we have two separate teachers' unions, particularly operating
within the same SCHOOLS!
The bottom line is that teachers must be PAID for the WORK they do. If they
work more than the number of hours defined in their job description, they
should be paid for their work. If they have to make cassettes at home for
their LD pupils (Although if they are putting in 8-hour days at school they
shouldn't have to work at home at all!) or photocopy special materials, this
is part of their work and they should be paid for these things. They must be
remunerated for ALL the work they do, just like in any other profession.
Teachers must have adequate WORKING CONDITIONS, and this includes the number
of pupils in a classroom and a personal workspace.
The unions are asking for way too little!
Gila Raz
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